Matlock and Matlock Bath Images: Old Matlock

This postcard of Old Matlock is from a painting by Henry Hadfield Cubley. It is difficult to provide an exact date; whilst it is likely to have been painted in the first decade of the 20th century it is possible that Cubley painted this scene in the last part of the nineteenth century. The webmistress believes that he included his wife and two little girls to add something extra to the picture.

Here is the area near St. Giles' parish church, which is off picture on the right, at the bend in Church Street. Behind the lamp is the entrance to the late eighteenth century Rectory. The Wheatsheaf (Wheatsheaf Farm) is the very old building behind the ancient tree. According to Pevsner, it dates from 1681 and has "a symmetrical front with windows of mullion-and-transome-crosses"^[1]. Pevsner also commented that "no one can feel the nearness of modern Matlock here^[1]". This is still true today, despite the increased use of the motor car.

Church Street was part of the old road connecting Matlock and Cromford and there were several inns along the route. The sign belongs to the old King's Head.

About the artist

Henry Hadfield Cubley was born in Newark, NTT, on 30 Oct 1858. He was the son of Samuel Ward Cubley, a Nottingham born painter and gilder, and his wife Jane Elizabeth (nee Willey). Henry was their eldest son; he had two elder sisters and several younger siblings^[2]. In 1881 he was living with his married sister, brother in law and a younger sister in Box, Wiltshire and described himself as a landscape painter.^[3] He is given as married, although no marriage has been found in research to date.

Cubley married Julia Gertrude Palmer in 1886^[4] and they were living at Montpellier (now The Firs), in Matlock Bath, by 1887^[5]. His daughters were baptised at Holy Trinity, Gladys Gertrude on 25 Aug 1887 and Kathleen Doris Palmer on 30 July 1891^[6].

He exhibited his work both locally, at the Bath's Assembly Rooms and Derby Corporation Art Gallery, as well as further afield between 1882 and 1904^[7]. Julia Gertude also seems to have worked as a landscape painter as she exhibited (as Gertrude Cubley) between 1887 and 1903. Matlock and Matlock Bath scenes were subjects for his paintings. Derbyshire featured too, including Ashbourne Grammar School, Buxton and Dovedale. His paintings were turned into postcards, like the picture of Old Matlock above, by Ralph Tuck and Sons. He painted highland cattle whilst visiting Scotland, Bettws Y Coed in Wales, Barmouth, Newark - the list of his subjects is seemingly endless. His distinctive backwardly sloping signature appeared bottom left on all his work.

Whilst living in Matlock Bath he played his part in village life^[8] and attended Holy Trinity Church^[9]. He seems to have been a lay preacher. Although it is unclear when he left the area, he did not advertise in the local trade directories after 1908^[5]. He experienced some financial problems, as did other residents, at around this time. He died, aged 75, in 1934.^[10]

Ralph Tuck & Sons "Oilette" [Regd.] Postcard 1705. Not used, so no date.
Postcard in the collection of, provided by and © Ann Andrews Intended for personal use only

References (coloured hyperlinks are to transcripts elsewhere on this website):

^[1] Pevsner, Nikolaus (1953) "The Buildings of England, Derbyshire" Penguin Books London, Melbourne, Baltimore, p. 179.
^[2] Researched in the 1861 census of Newark, where the Cubley family were living in Kirkgate.
^[3] 1881 census
^[4] GRO indexes - Marriages Q3 1886, CUBLEY Henry Hadfield Wolverhampton 6b 652. He painted several pictures of Wolverhampton
^[5] Kelly's Directory, 1887 | 1891 | 1895 | 1899 | 1908
^[6] Church records
^[7] According to various nineteeth century newspapers he exhibited both watercolours and oil paintings. For example, on 17 Jan 1900 "The Derby Mercury" reported the 13th annual exhibition of Derby sketching club and said that among the 69 hung "are many of outstanding merit, prominent amongst them being the works of ... Mr Hadfield Cubley ... most attractive work is probably his "Morning, near Arrochar" [a watercolour]. [Also] ... a nice canvas, "Near Matlock"
^[8] In district council elections of 1896 and 1899 he stood as a candidate and was then elected as one of the four men who represented Matlock Bath
^[9] Church records - inscriptions at Holy Trinity, Matlock Bath
^[10] Various years for his death are given on the Internet, including 1925, 1930 and 1934. His death is recorded in GRO indexes - Q2 1834 CUBLEY Henry H 75 Congleton 8a 371. No Will has been found

Also see the family entries in:
1891 census | 1901 census